Video Blog – Gay Republicans and the culture of “why?”

I have decided to do some video blogging for the literate challenged among you and it’s far easier than typing.  So have at!

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White trash, Christianists and Tea Baggers, oh my!

When I hear people whine and complain about socialized medicine or health care reform, it always falls  into one (or more) of these three things.

1. I personally have plenty of money and tend to be a greedy and short sighted individual. Now that I am financially well off, I shouldn’t have to take care of those who are less fortunate than I am. In the end, if they really wanted help they would be like me and get off their butt, work hard and become equally as selfish. I also tend to be the individual who complains about business taxes and any other sort of state imposed fee, but have no problem using public schools, libraries, roads, services, utilities, parks and look to the military to protect me in times of war. I do, however, plan on complaining about these services and their short comings when they tell me they need more money, after I have decided I do not need to pay them.

2. I don’t know why I dislike this bill, I have never read a single piece of information about this bill, but I have heard from Fox News that it is socialized medicine. While  I am unable to explain what socialized medicine is, I am sure it is a bad thing because my single and only source of biased “news” tells me what to think. I refuse to follow Obama or his plan, because following a single leader blindly is a dictatorship. Glen Beck told me that. I love Glen Beck and believe his tears are real.

3. I don’t have health insurance myself and I am functioning poorly without it. I have been denied coverage before for several reasons and can not afford the coverage that is offered to me begrudgingly. I have, however, been so convinced of the perfection of the free market system and have such low confidence and self worth, that I believe that large corporations can not cover me because I am too expensive and probably not worth offering service to anyway. Jesus will take care of everything Blue Cross does not, and if he doesn’t, I will blame the devil.

Watch the clip below and you will not only see these three principles, but you will see why forced education is something I am a big supporter of.

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Senate may be gifting HealthCare Reform. America asks, “Did you happen to get a gift receipt?”.

Senate negotiators have ended the day announcing they are close to reaching a deal on a “progressive” set of Health Care Reform packages. While no one is giving any details on these compromises, they have been sent to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) for further financial analysis. Once the CBO returns the numbers and they are found to be within the fiscal range of their goals, the legislation will go to the floor for a vote. While this entire parade has been back and forth, with many a moment of near death, it is expected that Health Care Reform will indeed pass the senate and become law.

Yet, for some reason, I do not find myself elated or excited.

While I think this country needs radical reform on many of its levels, both financially and socially, I have little hope that this bill will bring the reform we so badly need. The single payer plan was dead before it hit the tracks, but it still haunted reform with its possibilities. Many of us had hoped Obama would come to the table and revive it, bringing with it some of those terrifying socialist ideals (Ahh the horror!) that the right has been screaming about.

The plan as it stands now would allow people ages 55 – 64 to buy into Medicare, while expanding Medicaid availability to those within %150 of the federal poverty line. (Is it sad that I think I am one of those people?) A separate plan, offered up by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), would create a program available to those within %300 of the poverty line, modeled after her own states Basic Health system.

(more…)

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Palin gets punk’d…. again.

Canadian comedy show, “This hour has 22 minutes” has punk’d the gullible former Governor. Shocker…

The talk show sent its star, Mary Walsh, in character as “Marg Delahunty” in the hopes of getting Sarah to say something about the Canadian system of Health Care or something generally stupid on any subject. Never one to disappoint, Palin had this to say.

“Keep the faith” Palin said, “because common sense conservatism can be plugged in there in Canada too. In fact, Canada needs to reform its health care system and let the private sector take over some of what the government has absorbed.”

According to Mary, no one was allowed to ask any questions of Palin, even when having their book signed by her. Which is rather odd, considering how much “common sense you betchas” the woman carries around.

Awkward.

According to a recent poll, 90% of Canadians approve of their Health Care system, with a large majority thinking theirs is better than the U.S. despite the constant groans about waiting times for non emergency surgery.

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If Democrats don’t do what they were elected to do, they risk re-election. In other news, water is wet.

A new survey from  Public Policy Poll has shown that, if Democrats do not pass health care reform with a public option, they risk losing reelection bids. I would consider this a “no duh” moment, but apparently pollsters found this surprising.

The survey asked registered voters whether they would choose a Democrat or a Republican next year, if a health care bill with a public option has been passed. Forty-six percent said they would vote for a Democrat, while only 41% said they would vote for a Republican. When asked the same question under the scenario that Congress fails to pass health care reform legislation, the parties tied on the generic ballot, 40%-40%.

While the numbers show that passing health care reform, does not advance their numbers, it also shows that failing to deliver on this will result in them being hurt. Nate Silver went on to say -

Both polling and common sense would seem to dictate that the best way for Democrats to cut their losses would be to pass a health care bill — particularly one with a public option — and then move on to debating financial regulation and a jobs program, where public sentiment should be more on their side. They should probably not expect to gain ground if they pass health care — but they’re likely to lose more if they don’t.

I know that many people I have spoken with have stated their plans to begin voting  independent if the Democrats fail to deliver on a multitude of promises and policy changes. I would consider myself one of those people as well.

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Socialist Obama shares something in common with the pro life RNC and it rhymes with smushsmortion.

I am not sure why I have not seen more of this in the news, but thanks go out to NewsPoliticsAmerica for sharing this CNN video.

Apparently, since 1991, the RNC has allowed elective abortions to be covered in their employee health care program. Oops.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking.

First the RNC comes out against gay marriage and gay Americans, only to have a slew of homosexual and heterosexual tabloid disasters, forever tarnishing their family values image.

Then they come out against big taxes and government, only to allow sweeping wire taps of innocent Americans, all while supporting two unpopular, illegal and very expensive wars. Around this time they engage in torture and sedition, altering the “personal rights and freedoms” credo they claim as their own.

Not long after, they attack health care as a socialized institution, all the while having no issue taking money from corporate interests and allowing their representatives some of the best health care in the world. Health care paid for by American citizens… awkward socialism at its best?

Now we find out they offer elective abortion coverage in their Jesus Saves health care plan!? I just don’t think I can be a card carrying Republican anymore. What has become of my party? Where has the party of outright racism, homophobia and religious intolerance gone? The shame… the shame.

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The view of the floor

Video showing the reaction of Republicans and Democrats during the final tally of Health Care Reform votes.

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The lone Republican vote

Of all the Republicans who voted on Health Care tonight, one crossed party lines to address a change that he felt was desperately needed. What makes matters even more ironic is that he has been touted as the future of the Republican party. I don’t know much about this man, but of what I do know, I wouldn’t mind some more intelligent, non whites in the Republican party.

One Republican lawmaker out of 177 crossed party lines to support the health care reform legislation offered by Democrats.

Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, the Louisiana Republican who hails from a decidedly Democratic New Orleans district, voted yea on the final passage of legislation. He joined 219 Democrats to make the final margin 220 to 215 in favor of reform’s passage.

Cao was a major (and possibly the lone) target for Democrats hoping to get even a semblance of bipartisan support for the bill. He said after the vote that he had obtained a “commitment from President Obama that he and I will work together to address the critical health care issues of Louisiana.”

Read the entire article at The Huffington Post.

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